Requests for restructuring and redundancy support is up nearly 50% as the slowing economy starts to bite.  

The Employers and Manufacturers Association says requests have been steadily increasing over the past year, but there's been a surge in the past four months.   

Businesses across the board, but particularly in the manufacturing, retail, and hospitality industries, are suffering the most.  

Head of Advocacy Alan McDonald told Mike Hosking that we can expect the unemployment rate to rise over the coming months. 

He says it's looking like it's going to continue, which is a reflection of how hard things have been over the past three years. 

LISTEN ABOVE